Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MAYA
Duncan places me on the massive bed in the middle of his room.
I'm glad I'm not too short or I'd need a ladder to get into this bed.
His room is all gray and silver tones. I like it, it's him.
He pushes me up more on the bed and crawls up with me.
He lies on his back and pulls me to his chest. I really do want to sleep, but I'm worried about the possible nightmares.
I've had them every night since the shooting.
"Where'd you put my gun?"
"Hall closet, we'll put it in the safe later."
We're just about to drift off when my cell phone rings. I roll to the nightstand where he placed my purse and reach for my phone. It's an unknown number. I worry that my stalker is calling me, but without Duncan finding out, I need to answer it.
"Hello?" I answer tentatively. I also remember I need to text Greg and Derek.
"Maya, it’s Ana, are you ready to get on the plane tonight? By the way, Duncan volunteered to pick you up," Ana mutters into the phone.
"Ana, where are you calling from? This isn't your cell number."
"This is Jonathon's cell, my cell phone broke."
"Okay. Ya, I'm getting ready to go into a briefing right now. See you tomorrow morning."
"I love you, Maya. We need to talk. Oh, I got to go." She hangs up. I thought I heard Jonathon saying something angry to her in the background. I need to talk to her, too.
"Ana checking up on you?"
"Yes. Duncan, is she okay?" I bite my lip.
"I don't know, but I worry. We need to talk to her."
"I worry too, and yes we need to speak with her. She doesn't call me like she used to. When she does, it’s cryptic comments."
"What do you mean cryptic?" He rises up on his side to look down at me.
"She keeps telling me that if anything happens to her, she'll make sure I know what to do. She asks me to take care of you and James. She even talks like she's dying or going to die."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm terrified. Something is wrong. Duncan, if something happens to her, what will I do?"
"Baby, you’ve got me too. Don't worry. We'll talk to her tomorrow after we tell her about us. Why don't you invite her to go shopping with us the day after that?"
"Okay."
"Get some rest, baby." He leans down and kisses me, and I melt into him more. He breaks the kiss, kisses my nose and pulls me tight against him. He's looking at me carefully.
"When was the last time you slept more than napping?"
"It's been a while," I confess.
"Why?"
"Why can't I sleep? Or why haven't I slept?"
"Both."
"I can't sleep because of the nightmares.
The night my parents died, I was asleep.
I woke up an orphan. I don't want to fall asleep and wake up to more people I care about dead.
Lately, I've been having nightmares about those two children yelling at me that I killed their parents.
" I can't tell him about my stalkers and the dreams of him dying too.
"Baby, that was a justified shooting and you were right in not killing him. As for your parents, I used to have nightmares about my mum. Now, I have nightmares about a friend dying in Afghanistan. I know how hard it is. Do you talk to someone?"
"When I need to. It only seems to work with you and your sister."
"What works?" He looks at me, his eyebrow raising.
"Me being able to sleep. When your sister brought me here after they died, I woke up screaming.
Ana crawled into bed with me and held my hand.
I slept for the first time in weeks. Now, I need to drink till I pass out, take sleeping pills, or just doze.
Except for with you, I haven't been able to sleep on my own. "
He puffs up his chest. "Oh yeah, baby, it's all me." I giggle. I know he's trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm serious. In college I attempted to sleep with Carl and I ended up slugging him when he held me down."
"Who's Carl? And why would he hold you down?"
"Well...he was my boyfriend in college. We were in biathlon together and dated for a couple of years.
One night I decided to see if I could sleep all night with him in my apartment.
He tried to hold me down when I started thrashing around.
He ended up with his hands around my throat because of the way I was moving around in my nightmare.
I slugged him, breaking his nose. He broke up with me right then, telling me I was no good at relationships and he was seeing someone else.
He only stayed with me that night to get lucky he said.
My roommate threatened to kill him if he ever touched me again. "
"What a wanker, serves him right for holding you down. Now relax and try to sleep, baby." I lay my head on his chest, he pulls my hand to his heart, and I actually fall asleep.
Duncan
I have to keep this woman with me. I didn't realize how much I really missed her until I saw her walking out of that terminal.
She had my complete attention, both my heart and my cock when I saw her.
I'm hoping Joshua can convince her to take a job with Securities International.
It turned me on to see her packing, but I was also scared for her.
The thought of her in danger makes my insides twist. My gut clenches with memories of the nightmare I had in Paris. I can't lose her. I won't lose her.
I was curious about her sleeping issues, and the fact that she's having nightmares after that shooting only makes her other issues worse.
I really can't believe I went all this time without her.
The Skyping, texting, and phone calls weren't enough.
I'm going to take her out on dates and show her how perfect these two weeks can be.
Just like that one day in New York. No fear of being caught.
Just her and me. Maybe she'll decide to stay and will move here permanently.
Her comments about my sister have me concerned. Ana has always been so headstrong and independent, but in the last six months, I've seen her pulling back and into herself. I'll kill that bloody arse if he has hurt her.
A couple of times while we're resting, her phone goes off and I ignore it, letting her sleep.
I spend the rest of the day making love to Maya. We shower and dine in. After dinner I catch her standing in the winter garden area of my flat, staring out at the Thames.
"Baby?" I approach quietly and know she doesn't realize I'm behind her when she startles.
"I'm just enjoying the view."
I can tell she is hiding something from me and I want to push but know she will close up on me.
"Want to talk about it?"
"About what?"
"Whatever you're not saying."
"I'm peaceful and I don't normally get to be. Even in my own condo I feel like I'm under stress."
"From what?"
"My life, the expectations of doing my job. Many other things."
"Baby, I only want you." I wrap my arms around her and pull her back into me. "Want me to help you relax?"
"Please."
I hear the tremor in her voice. I know what she needs, but will she let me do it?
"Lean forward and place your palms against the glass."
The winter garden part of my flat is an area that has a bench and indoor fireplace. I can close a double thick glass wall to shut it off but usually keep it open. It’s cooler in here and with her in just my T-shirt, I see her nipples poking through the shirt.
She listens and presses her hands against the glass.
I lift her up and press my sweatpants covered cock into her arse.
She moans and her head falls back. I spread her legs and notice she still doesn't have any panties on.
I release my cock and slide into her slick heat.
Pressing her harder into the glass wall, overlooking the gardens below, I make love to her slowly.
My thrusts are unhurried and deliberate.
The last couple of times I've gone slow with her she has begged me to hurry, but this time I see her biting her tongue not to beg.
I want to take her slowly so she can see how good it is.
I want to breach her walls. I want her forever.
She is my worth it. Her moans increase, and as my pace continues, she finally starts clenching around my cock and I lose my spunk in her.
I pull out of her and turn her and sit on the lounge.
"Baby, you can tell me anything."
She doesn't respond. Just nods and buries her head into my neck.
Tomorrow is going to come too soon. I'll have to share her with my family, and I know she's going to fight me on telling them, but I'll win this. She ends up sending a few texts and I wonder what my girl is hiding.